February 2006 Feature Car

[J_D]

I had the pleasure of meeting Ken and Jerri for the first time at the Berger ZL1 Special Delivery in May of 2003. We had lunch upstairs on Sunday and got acquainted. What a guy (and gal). They treated me just like they had known me all my life ! ! ! !

Most recently we (Nancy and I) had the pleasure of dining with them last Labor Day weekend at SCR8 at both the Banquet and then also Breakfast Sunday morning after SCR8 before all of us left to depart for home. At breakfast that Sunday morning, he shared with me another story from his past. This particular story involved "Big Daddy" Don Garlits helping him change out his clutch in a motel parking lot before a big race in Texas. After completing the change, it was so hot they went to the motel swimming pool, stripped down and jumped in. The motel manager was furious as it was late at night and the pool was closed. Kenny said "Big Daddy" jumped out of the pool and confronted the Manager. He asked the Manager if he knew who he was. He said that he did not. "Big Daddy" told him that he better find out because that he "Big Daddy" would own the motel tomorrow. "Big Daddy" stopped by Kenny's room the next day and asked him if he had been down by the pool. Kenny asked "Why, did they close it?" "Big Daddy" told him that no, they had extended the hours ! ! ! !

After this story Jerri asked Kenny "Is your throat sore yet?" This was Jerri's attempt to get Kenny to stop telling us these old stories. He just smiled.

Kenny my friend, I hope your throat never, ever gets sore. We love hearing these stories from your past ! ! !

I think Cumby summarized it correctly above. Kenny, you are a true gentleman and a treasure and credit to our hobby.

If any of you here on the board have not met Kenny, you really should. It will be an experience you won’t soon forget. And you should also see him make a pass down the track as shown below in the photo I took at last years SCR8.